If I was in power, this is what I would do:

in refereance to "talk to the people who have the problem – and LISTEN to what they have to say" what I thought (for a long time now) is that, if I was in power (president, or something like that), I'd have a weekly meeting with a random person.

Have a computer (or something like that) choose someone at random, and call them over for a 2-3 hours talk, where they could tell me what they think about the way things are being handled, about what's bothering him, and how HE (or she) would do things differantly.

This talk would not be just a one way thing, I would do my best to explaine my (and the state's) actions to this person, and will try to see thru his eyes, how my (the state's) policies are viewed.

ofcourse, I'm sure no one (or very few) will agree to come and talk to me like that, so I suppose they will have to be conpensated acordingly. and a few details like securaty would have to be worked out (should it be publicly knowen who's the choosen one, ahead of time? should the media be alowed to meet him before/after it?). but I feel staying in touch with thoes that voted for me, is importent.